Mother knows best

Me to my mother as she walks outside to smoke: Have fun getting cancer

My mother without skipping a beat: Oh shut up. I don't tell you 'enjoy having a heart attack' when you go out for a jog.

Touche.

Christmas at the Howell's

Kylee's got the photography skills, I've got the snowflake making skills.

Harleys, Thunderbird, Kentucky Headhunters, and Panama Jack

I hate when people mark anniversaries of tragedies that have happened in their lives. To me it's just a reminder of a bad time in your life. Why would you want to relive that and take yourself back to that time? I guess it helps some people with the grief to mark the occasion.

It almost slipped by this year without even the slightest thought. Most people are remembering the events of Pearl Harbor and all the men and women that lost their lives or were forever tortured from the days events. Not my family. Love you Gramps.

A road trip to Alabama is in order.

Fine, Kanye. FINE.

Remember that one post where I called Kanye out and told him that Bon Iver was better with auto-tune songs? Well, he must have caught wind because he came up with this jem:



I'm having a seriously hard time determining which I love better. I haven't listened to the rest of Kanye's new album but this song half tempts me.

Chicago: A Picture Story

This weekend I decided to go to Chicago and spend Thanksgiving with this girl:

BFF Christina

We made: 

Artichoke hearts, tomatoes, basil, goat cheese, mozzarella

Saw this: 

Record store from High Fidelity

Took these: 

Probably the best photo booth in all the land*

Gazed at these:

And were very pleased with this: 

BYU vs Utah football game

All in all I had a good time but just to set the tone of the weekend, 10 minutes into my flight from Austin to Memphis, a woman two rows up from me barfed ALL OVER. When I say all over, I mean all over. There was no trying to aim for the giant bag that was being held right in front of her face. We were on a CRJ200 which made it worse. (Go ahead and click on that link to see how very un-large the plane is). I feel like I STILL smell like barf and it's been a week.

My luck on the way home wasn't any different. My flight from Chicago to Memphis was delayed two hours causing me to have to miss my connecting flight into Austin. I'm not one to cry and certainly not in public but I seriously just wanted to get home to my puppy and to Texas that I ended up having tears stream from my face through the whole airport and for half of the train ride to Michigan Ave. People looked at me like I was nuts but I didn't even care.

Luckily I was put on the first flight out of Chicago the next morning and after having the pleasure of being escorted into one of those glass TSA boxes to get felt up by a huge woman, I was on my way home! This was my view: 

I think that makes up for all the shit I went through, eh? Delta can still suck it.

*The photo booth was in the record store. It advertised $3. Christina shoved me in and started feeding the machine dollar bills. As she was paying, I read a sign that said 'May start taking photos before all money is put in'. About a dollar in, the flash started. The first photo is Christina's sleeve. The second is a dollar and me. The third and fourth are of Christina struggling to finish paying and me laughing at the whole situation. Probably the highlight of the trip. I still laugh out loud when I look at the strip.

Cancer loves Glenn Beck and it hates nachos.

What A Girl Wants

It's not even Thanksgiving yet but I'm already thinking of all the things I'd love for Christmas. Sometimes just putting together a wish list is better than shopping itself. You get the retail therapy without denting your bank account. It's a win/win situation. I've got an Amazon wish list that I've had forever and I keep adding and deleting things. One of these days when I'm out of debt, I'm going to buy myself everything on that list....one of these damn days. Until then I'll be content just looking at it.

 Here's my Christmas wish list:

Tropic of Discussion Dress, Modcloth.com

One thing I am LOVING about Austin is the awesome weather. When I was in Utah, I lived in jeans and t-shirts. Now that I'm in Austin, I usually wear a dress. And boots. Girl finally has some fashion sense!

The Red Dirt Album by Stoney LaRue

I can't stop listening to Texas country and Stoney LaRue is probably my favorite right now. (Eli Young Band is at a close second.) He's playing Antone's this Friday. Sadly, I blew all my money on a plane ticket to Chicago so I can spend Thanksgiving with my best friend. But I'm sure he'll be back around soon enough.

Scented Candle Pots by Pottery Barn

I'm nothing short of a Scentsy whore. (My Dear Watson is probably THE best smell in the U S of A) I should have bought stock in the stuff when it first came out. That or maybe I should have become a consultant. I'd be rich. But there is just something about a candle that is so warm, inviting, sexy, comforting, and romantic. Nothing can replace a candle. My roommate has a bit of a shopping problem and candles are one of the things she "hoards". (HI LESLIE!) I've taken the liberty of helping her cause by having a candle burning everyday while I work. I'm a saint, I know.

Tom's black Glitter's

When I first saw these shoes, I hated them. I thought they were so ugly. But then I tried on a pair and it was like heaven. I suffer from plantar fasciitis so flats are not my friend, even though I love them so much. And THEN I found out that for every pair purchased, they donate a pair to a child in need. If for nothing else, buy me a pair for the children!

MAC eyeshadow

I am by no means a girlie girl. Nor am I the type to drop a ton of cash on beauty products. I like to be showered and out the door in 45 minutes tops. I spend $4 on the pink and green tube of mascara. I shop at Ross and have to debate whether that dress is really worth $19.99. (However I do refuse to wear anything but Victoria Secret bras. I guess a girl has got to pick her battles) BUT I have discovered MAC make-up and have found it to be so fun to play with. I still feel like a little girl getting into her mother's make-up. Some pricier make-up really does pay for itself. (Much like those Victoria bras.)

This needs no caption...

...or explanation. Sigh.